Sash-balance.



No. 744,995. PATENTED Nov. 24,1903".-

W. BER-RY. SASH BALANCE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I wms fiu gl ra I M g m: NGFfmS Pawns co, Pumuumo" WASHINGTON, 0.41

No. 744,995; PATENTED NOV. 2 4, 1903.

' W. BERRY.

SASH BALANCE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 1903.

10 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- I I 3 J I i I 1mm [21 uen tor:

W zgywzzzjyiyl WM Yw 4 Any 'PATENTBD NOV. 24, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEBT 3.

' BERRY.

SASH BALANCE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 1903. N0 MODEL.

NITED- STATES rammed November e4, 1903.

WASHINGTONBERRY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SASH-BALANCE.

SPECIFICATION iorming'part of Letters Patent No. 744,995, dated November 24, 1903.

Application filed January 9, 1903. Serial No. 188,379. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WASHINGTON BERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sash- Balances, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of that class of sashbalances in which the weight of the sash is counterbalanced by a torsional spring put under strain when the sash is lowered and which when the sash is raised exerts its resistance upon a connected mechanism, and thus assists in raising the sash or balancing the same by holding it in suspension.

The particular object of my invention is to improve upon my sash balances and locks described in Letters Patent Nos. 156,715and 456,716, granted August 28, 1891, also my pending application of even date herewith, and to surmount certain difficulties heretofore experienced in these and analogous devices.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a window frame and sash with the casing sufficiently broken away to show my balancing and locking device in position in, the window-casing. Fig. 2 shows on a larger scale a part of the same structure. Fig. 3 represents an elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 shows an elevation of a modified form of sash-balance. Fig. 5 shows another modified form of sash-balance. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a part of Fig. 5. Fig. 6 is a detail of the lock. Fig. 6 is a further detail.

In the above-mentioned drawings and referring to Figs. 1 to 4., A represents the easing of a window-fraine, B the upper sash, and C the lower sash. In the edge of each sash is secured avertical rack S and S. to a removable support D, Fig. 1, preferably a part of the stiling of the window-frame, and projecting through the slots V and V in the stiling or support into the sash-run are two pinion-wheels E F, composed, preferably, of compressed fiber, each supported by metallic plates H II, Fig. 3, compressed by the bolt-heads G G on the shaft P L.

The spur pinion-wheel E engages the vertical rack on the lower sash O, and the other spur pinion-wheel F engages the rack on the upper sash B, these pinions being in the same horizontal plane and a sufficient distance Attached apart to allow the parting-strip to pass between them. I prefer the racks to be embedded in the edge of the sashes nearer to the parting-head than the middle of the edge of the sashes, as shown at Y, Fig. 3. These two pinion-wheels are connected and acted upon through beveled gearing K K and X X byindependent spiral or torsional springs I I, both contained within the window-casin g and mounted upon the removal board or support D, these springs being secured and held in place by two metallic rods P R running axially Within the spiral spring, the rod P being rotary and connected to the gearing and the other stationary, both being held rigidly in the same line by the bearing M M, Fig. 1, and operated as more fully shown in the Letters Patent granted March 15, 1892, No. 470,665. It will be observed that these spur-wheels are immovably placed in a position at or near the meeting-rails of the two sashes when the sashes are in a closed position or midway between the top and bottom of the windowframe. The independent connection between the springs is effected by intermediate beveled gear-wheels K K and XX, Fig. 3. The gear-wheel K is keyed upon a rotary shaft P, to which one end of one of the springs is attached, while the gear-wheel K is similarly secured to the shaft P, which carries the spu rpinion E for the lower sash. In like manner the beveled gears X X are respectively secured to shafts L L, the latter of which carries the spur-pinionF for the upper sash. It will be observed that each of these spur pinionwheels which bears upon its respective sash has an independent set of beveled gears and springs; but both are generally in the same casing in one compact device easily placed and removed bodily from the window frame or casing. In balancing heavy windows four springs may be used, if required, two springs being placed vertically above the meetingrails and two vertically below the meetingrails, a third beveled gear-wheel K, Fig. 4:, being added to the mechanism for raising each sash, as shown in Fig. 4. It will be seen that with this addition twice the balancing power will be realized. In very heavy windows the raising power maybe further increased by placing the device in the casing or well on the opposite side of the window too frame. I now come to the mode of locking these spur pinion-wheels, and in consequence the two sashes, in any position they may be placed. I accomplish this in a complete manner by means of one or more similarly-constructed pawls or dogs g g, Fig. 3, both pivoted on the shaft or rod 77. and so constructed as to engage the teeth of and lock simultaneously their respective pinion-wheels E F, being pressed into position by a spring or springs on the rod n. The two duplicate pawls or dogs 9 g are slotted to allow the cam-rod r to pass through the slot in both pawls, both of which are thus operated by the turn-knob R by means of two duplicate cams 0 0, placed on the rod 1" (0' being broken away at n, Fig. 3, to show construction of shaft L and metallic plates II, the duplicate pawl for looking the upper sash not appearing in the draw ings) and similarly fitted into the slots of the pawls, said slots being the same size and shape and so constructed, and that each cam operates and either raises or lowers simultaneously the two dogs or pawls g g and at the same time locks them in the highest or lowest position they may attain. Thus, by turning the knob R the two pinion-wheels are securely locked or unlocked simultaneously by the pawls engaging or disengaging the teeth of their respective pinion-wheels E F, and consequently locking or unlocking both sashes.

I find that metallic wheels are undesirable in these devices owing to the noise of the wheels running in a metallic rack and also on account of the rusting of the metal, especially in windows seldom used. I have therefore substituted in my invention composition wheels made, preferably, of compressed fiber. I find wheels made of this material are useless on account of their tendency to warp, and I obviate this defect by pressing the spur pinion-wheels E and F, made of this materiahbetween two metallic plates or washers, as shown on the ends of the shafts P L, tightly pressed together by the nut-bolts G G, which prevent these wheels from warping and require them to run true within their bearings.

The device may be wound up in any suitable wayas, for instance, by using spurwheels similar to E F on a turn-shaft made attachable and removable, being fixed in position on the removable board D, (before this board, with devices attached, is placed in position in the window frame.) I prefer to wind up the device when in a fixed position, its teeth engaging the teeth of the spur pinion-wheels. Operating the turn-shaft of this winding device, both springs are quickly wound to about the required strength and securelylocked, as heretofore shown, by means of the two pawls and the turn-knob R. -The device now wound up and attached to the removable board'is placed in position in the window-frame as shown in the accompanying drawings. This mode of locking both sashes simultaneouslyby means of a rack-andpinion movement between the window-casing and sashes and the use of this kind of construction of pinion -wheels is very useful in connection with window-sashes balanced by means of weights and, as far as'I am aware, is new.

The advantage of this device and the improvement over previous constructions resulting from the compact form of device, its easy and inexpensive mode of placing in position,and convenient method of winding and adjustment, one operating-knob for looking with perfect security both sashes simultaneously in any desired position within, but out of reach of an intruder from without, thereby giving ventilation from both top and bottom of the window with perfect security, no part of the mechanism being visible except the small turn-knob on the window-casing, and also thevuse of the non metallic wheels, which prevents the noise heretofore objected to in this class of invention, will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, A and A are two torsional springs, their lower ends being connected together by means of the gearwheels a, a, and a journaled on the shafts b and b and b and held by the metal frame or bearing E (the shafts Z) and 11 being rotary and the shaft Z) stationary.) Two of the shafts extend into the ends of the springs, the shaft 1) extending into one end of the spring A and connected to its interior end and the shaft Z1 extending into one end of spring A and connected to its interior end. B and B are two drivingor spur wheels journaled in the metal frame-bearing 0 which affect and are affected by the shafts d and d through the beveled gears c and e and f and f, re- I spectively. The shafts d and d extend into the other ends of the springs A? and A and are connected to their interiorends, the shafts d extending into the end of the spring A and the shaft d extending into the end of the spring A The spur-pinion or driving-wheel B is turned toward the left hand, and the spring A starts to wind toward the left, and affects and is affected by the beveled gear e, (made a part of B and turning on the stationary shaft 1 which operates the bevelgear e, fixed to the rotary shaft cl, journaled in its bearings 0 and 0 Now the motion extends through the coils of the spring toward the left to the interior end of the spring A which is thus affected and moved also toward the left, which. in turn affects the gear-wheel a, journaled upon it. The gear-wheel a is thus turned toward the left, which turns the gear-wheel a toward the right and moves the gear-wheel a toward the left. wheel a is journaled upon the rotary shaft 6 which extends into and is fixed to the in terior end of the spring A The gear-wheel a turns the shaft toward the left, which turns the coils of the spring A in the same direction, and this commences to wind. The motion is carried through the spring A to its The gear- 7 other interior end fixed to the end of the shaft (1, and this turns the shaft (1 toward the left, which affects the bevel-gear f and also turns it to the left. lhe bevel-gear f then affects the bevel-gear f, which carries a reverse motion to the spur-wheel B causing it to move in an upward directionthat is, when the springs are placed in the vertical position in a window frame or casing, as shown.

It will now be readily understood that when the spur pinion-wheel B is held or fixed it becomes the resisting or stationary end of the spring or series of springs, and the spur-pinion B being at the other or rotary end of the spring or series when the spur-wheel I3 is turned in a downward direction, the spur-pinion B being fixed is forced in an upward direction. The series of springs is thus wound through the system of motion of the gearing, shafting, and spring, and when fully wound and the series of springs are under their required torsional strain the spur pinion-wheel B is locked by means of the pawl P and bolted by means of the cam 25, working within its eccentric. The driving-wheels l3 and B are meshed into the vertical racks in the sashes corresponding to each pinion,l3 being meshed with a vertical rack in the upper sash and 13 being meshed with a vertical rack in the lower sash. Instead of racks in the sash I may utilize chains, as shown at 2, Fig. 6, engaged by the teeth 3, or the teeth 4 may be used when the sashes are fitted with racks. It will be readily seen that these coiled torsional springs can be constructed to exert their resilience either toward the right or left and that their resisting powercan alsobe reversed by means of the gearing when required. By these means the force of the series of springs is easily applied in any direction. It will also be readily understood that the series of springs can be used above and below the meeting rails of the sashes.

It willbe readily understood that more than two sashes contained within the same windowframe can be balanced by means of torsional springs journaled in the casin g and connected by gearing to respective sashes carried within their guides and also that the sashes need not necessarily be placed in the same frames, but may be side by side, as in car-windows, the spring or springs in this case being arranged horizontally within the casin g between the sashes and connected to them by means of suitable gearing.

It will be understood that the parts may be changed as to location without affecting the scope of my invention, such change being merely a reversal.

I do not wish to limit myself to the independent shafts for each set of beveled gears, as shown in Fig. 3, or to one shaft for both sets of beveled gears, as shown in Fig. 5, though I prefer to use the latter form.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new- 1. A sash-balancing device, consisting of a removable support attached within the windowcasing, pinions and torsional springs for operating said pinions mounted upon said support and extending vertically thereof and acting upon racks upon the window-sashes, and gearing between the vertical springs and the pinions whereby the entire operating mechanism of the sash-balance is carried by said support, and may thus be applied to or removed bodily from the casing, substantially as described and shown.

2. In a sash-balance and in combination, two pinions in the same horizontal plane,upon the same side of the window engaging the racks upon the respective window-sashes, torsional springs for operating the pinions, gearing between the torsional springs and the pinions and locking means, substantially as de scribed.

In a sash-balance operating through a rack-and-pinion movement between the sash and the casing, a pinion in the casing engaging with the sash, a torsional spring in the casing above and below said pinion each of which springs extends vertically and bevelgearing connecting both springs to the same pinion, whereby both act upon it simultaneously, substantially as set forth.

4. In a sash-balance, torsional springs ar ranged side by side and connected together at their adjacent ends, gearing forming said connection mounted and journaled in the casing of the window-frame and a connection from said springs to the sash whereby the combined and continuous power of the springs is collected and applied to operate one or more sashes, substantially as set forth.

5. In a sash-balance, torsion-springs extending vertically connected together at one end by means of gearing and journaled in the casing, the other ends of said springs being connected through gearing to pinions bearing upon racks on adjacent sashes whereby the combined resilience of the springs will act on either or both sashes, substantially as described and shown.

6. In a sash-balance, operating through rack-and-pinion movement, pinions in the casing engaging racks on the adjacent sashes two or more connected torsion-springs in the casing above and below the meeting-rails, the springs of each set being connected together through gearing at their adjacent ends and gearing connecting the other ends of the sets of springs to the pinions engaging the said racks whereby the series of springs act upon the pinions and consequently upon the sashes, substantially as described and shown.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WASHINGTON BERRY.

\Vitnesses:

F. H. DRURY, E. SHASBERGER. 

